The owners of this beautiful bushland property wanted luxury in the country. Their vision was a very contemporary, comfortable home with an idyllic timber cabin feel, nestled among the trees with a view across the ocean.
Our concept combined the iconic Australian rural shed with the contemporary Danish ‘Sommerhus’, with all of its luxurious style and modern amenities. The external surface is wrapped in corrugated metal cladding, true to the rustic Australian bush setting. We ‘cut away’ from this solid shell to create the windows and open the house to the outside, exposing the softer, timber-lined interior to view. This also refined the shape of the house and gave it the angular, modern aesthetic the owners wanted. Inside, the house is divided into two ‘modules’, separated by the entry vestibule. The bedrooms and the open plan kitchen/dining/lounge areas drink in the light and the views of the Indian Ocean, cooled and shaded by the overhanging frame of the external structure. Outside, a grassed terrace level becomes an extension of the living space, so the family need only slide back the glass doors to enjoy warm evenings in the coastal air. At the back of the home, the smaller bathroom and laundry rooms face the bushland, combining privacy and utility.
Technology added the extra stroke of luxury the owners were looking for. Solar passive design, lighting control, underfloor heating and a traditional wood-fire stove keep the interior comfortable in the many moods of the coastal climate. Data and audio connectivity make it the perfect retreat for entertaining and relaxing, and the home is self-sufficient for power and water. Sustainability and safety were also big concerns: we installed phosphate-removal septics and an integrated bushfire protection system as part of the build.